MAIN STAGE

SLENDER MEANS

The tightly crafted, Anglo-centric pop songs that made up this local quartet's debut last year bent ears nationwide for good reason: few fresh artists can channel their influences with such seamless shifts between homage and innovative expansion. Strongly recommended for fans of the Smiths who always wanted Morrissey to tone down the ego and tone up the rock muscle. (Fri 4:30–5:15 pm)

THE HELIO SEQUENCE

Originally coming across as noisy-but-progressive shoegazer rock on their 2000 debut, Com Plex, this Portland duo took a welcome left turn with 2004's Love and Distance, a record so multifaceted that only repeated listens can unearth its eclectic intelligence and romantic imagination. Highly recommended for fans of Mercury Rev's celestial ambitions and My Bloody Valentine's eerier experimentations. (Fri 5:45–6:30 pm)

HIMSA

It isn't saying much to grant Himsa the title of "Best Fucking Metal Band" in the city, 'cause there really isn't a plethora of decent metal. Not pure, shredding, face-melting metal, anyway (don't hate, you know it's true). But let's give Himsa the crown anyway, 'cause they're that killer. Chad Davis's drumming will make your eyes roll back in your head, and Johnny Pettibone's vocals are so intense, they'll make your throat bleed. (Fri 7–7:45 pm)

BAND OF HORSES

Epic. Such a slippery word, with its connotations of Wagner opera cycles, Fassbinder film festivals, and trying to read Moby Dick in its entirety in a single week of high school. Yet it's still the best word to describe soaring BOH cuts from Everything All the Time like "The First Song" and "The Great Salt Lake," extended tracks that carve a gorgeous musical arc through space, anchored gently but firmly by Ben Bridwell's aching voice. (Fri 8:15–9:15 pm)

PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES

When Pretty Girls Make Graves debuted in this city, they were viewed as a promising offshoot of the recently defunct Murder City Devils (bassist Derek Fudesco helped forge the band mere months after MCD disbanded). Five years later, PGMG are respected as one of Seattle's most dynamic and engaging bands, thanks to their intensely exploratory stance within the field of powerful, melodic punk rock. Frequently (and legitimately) described as a spirited hybrid of Fugazi's angular guitar muscle and the Avengers' impassioned delivery, PGMG boast an exceptional live presence. (Fri 9:45–11 pm)

SCHOOLYARD HEROES

All you rock-loving, ripped-up-prom-dress-donning Schoolyard fans should be stoked to know that despite the band's summer tour schedule, the Heroes have been recently writing their third full-length, the follow-up to last year's severe Fantastic Wounds. They've played the Block Party before, but this year they're moving up to the main stage, and no doubt their female-fronted metal/rock/hardcore hybrid will deliver epic darkness despite the blistering sun. (Sat 2–2:45 pm)

SMOOSH

They're already veterans and Smoosh still can't drive. The pop duo (Asya and Chloe) have appeared on the Today Show, played to sold-out venues while opening for acts such as Death Cab for Cutie and Sleater-Kinney, and toured with the Eels and Jimmy Eat World. And while the girls grow up (they're now 14 and 12, respectively), their act becomes less of a "Look at the preadolescent playing drums!" gimmick and more of a "Man, that's actually some really cute and catchy pop!" talent. Just sayin'. (Sat 3:15–4 pm)

SILVERSUN PICKUPS

The Silversun Pickups have a new album called Carnavas, but where they really shine is live under the lights. Guitarist-singer Brian Aubert's essentially private melodies take on extra resonance when performed, and though the band had a hard time in the beginning playing in front of an audience, they're now a tight and adventurous group. Think the Pixies plus My Bloody Valentine plus Placebo. Or just go and close your eyes and listen to the band's radiant darkness. (Sat 4:30–5:15 pm)

MINUS THE BEAR

Minus the Bear are better at both the indie-rock and math-rock thing than most bands in the world (and they know it), but they don't shove it in your face. Instead they use their talents (intricate guitars, atmospheric electronic embellishments, airtight drumming) to create layers of smooth and slightly artful and understated compositions that ultimately defy the indie-rock title as well as the math-rock one. Basically, they're unbelievable. (Sat 5:45–6:30 pm)

BLACK ANGELS

Ominous, sexy, droney psych-rock by a band named in homage to the Velvet Underground's "The Black Angel's Death Song"? With a hot woman working a "drone machine"? Playing songs off a dark, groovy album (Passover) lovingly packaged in b&w op-art? We are so there. Austin's Black Angels will descend on the Block Party like a specter from Lou Reed's mind and shatter your summer reverie like a 21st-century Exploding Plastic Inevitable happening. (Sat 7–8 pm)

COMMON MARKET

Common Market drop the knowledge and beats with equal aplomb. Like Seattle's own hiphop conscience, RA Scion and Sabzi have illuminated a path by which intelligence and social awareness can live in balance with head-bopping beat brilliance. Never weighed down by their topics or any undue earnestness, CM glide by delivering the truth. (Sat 8:30–9:15 pm)

MURDER CITY DEVILS

See preview. (Sat 9:45–11 pm)

NEUMO'S STAGE

IMMACULATE MACHINE

Perky trio Immaculate Machine make the B-52s sound like Bauhaus. Hailing from Victoria, BC, the band are led by Kathryn Calder of the New Pornographers, so they know their way around a catchy tune, as Immaculate Machine's 2005 album, Ones and Zeros, proves. With a breathless, new-wavey effervescence, these canny Canucks will keep the corners of your mouth curving upward while igniting a frothy sugar rush. (Fri 5–5:45 pm)

TENNIS PRO

Tennis Pro are ready to school all novices with their ridiculously hummable tunes, propulsive guitars, and quirky lyrics ("We put the punk in punctuation"). What better summer afternoon activity could there be than watching three guys in full tennis regalia, complete with wooden rackets and well-deserved trophies, rock out under the sun? Their power-pop sensibilities encompass bands from the Beach Boys to Hot Hot Heat, but they make it all their own with off-kilter humor and smirking, Izod-flaunting attitude. Prepare to be aced. (Fri 6:15–7 pm)

THE VILLAGE GREEN

Due to their Kinks-nodding moniker and sunny, superlative debut EP, folks quickly tagged PDX ensemble the Village Green as practitioners of latter-day Brit pop. But their debut album, Feeling the Fall (out August 29), expands VG's scope, with edgy, harder-rocking guitars and drums framing the reedy vocals of bandleader J. Nicholas Allard, accented with occasional baroque flourishes. The group underwent key membership changes last month, so today's set promises to bristle with extra excitement. (Fri 7:30–8:15 pm)

THEE EMERGENCY

"This is the best band ever!" Thus screamed Stranger publisher Tim Keck the first time he saw Thee Emergency. It's weird to witness the boss geeking out like a 14-year-old girl at an Osmonds concert circa 1972, but he's right. Fusing garage rock and soul, this Seattle ensemble kicks it hard-and-poppy... like if that clean-cut Mormon clan had gotten strung out on crank, replaced Donnie with Millie Jackson, and turned "Crazy Horses" into a seven-minute noisefest. (Fri 8:45–9:45 pm)

THE COPS

Sneering vocals, rumbling drums, guitar lines that spike and dip like an EKG readout, and incisive lyrics—the Cops recall the Clash at the peak of their powers, but without the feeling that someone might hand you a pop quiz at the end of the program. The politics-plus-rock thing hasn't been this much fun since those Democratic fundraisers back in 2004... except this time the outcome will be a lot more rewarding. (Fri 10:15–11 pm)

BIG BUSINESS

While the relentless heaviness that veteran players Jared Warren (Karp, Tight Bros. From Way Back When, the Whip) and Coady Willis (Murder City Devils, Broadcast Oblivion) have committed to tape thus far is a solid document of their vertebrae-rattling capabilities, it can't begin to compete with the visceral impact of their live show. Forging primitive punk aggression with old-school metal doomscapes is what makes them unique; holding jaded hipster audiences rapt is what makes them a treasure. (Fri 11:30 pm–12:15 am)

FOURCOLORZACK

This young Seattle DJ is becoming ubiquitous at the city's hippest happenings. Usually, ubiquity leads to crowd contempt or apathy, but Fourcolorzack has proved adaptable to his surroundings. Whether getting eclectic and unpredictable at hipster-intensive gigs thrown by Death of the Party ("you got Bush Tetras in my E-40") or rocking Source-approved hiphop heaters for true headz, the slick-mixing FCZ fills dance floors with Swiss-watch reliability. Catch him before he breaks out nationwide any month now. (Fri 12:15-1:30 am)

FRANKI CHAN

DJ Franki Chan left Seattle years ago and reinvented himself in L.A. as the go-to guy for young Hollywood's hippest parties. His populist musical taste and fun-loving attitude behind the decks have made him a hit from coast to coast at everything from sweaty house parties to swank corporate events. Party like a celebutante at his iheartcomix dance party. (Web-exclusive interview forthcoming at www.thestranger.com/lineout.) (Fri 12:15–1:30 am)

FLEET FOXES

Fleet Foxes are like a long, cool glass of lemonade, delightfully refreshing, sweet and tart at the same time. What a nice treat under the (let's hope) baking Seattle summer sun. They go back and forth a bit between up-tempo, clean-sounding indie pop and slower numbers that lean back in the shade and ask you to join them. Singer Robin Pecknold anchors this young, assured combo with his cool presence front and center. If you're tired and hot and dying for some good pop songs, let Fleet Foxes quench your thirst. (Sat 2:45–3:30 pm)

THE CAN'T SEE

John Atkins is a kind of invisible genius, maintaining a perpetually low profile while churning out some of the best indie rock of Seattle's last decade as the creative force behind Hush Harbor, 764-Hero, and Magic Magicians. His music, along with that of contemporaries like Lync and Modest Mouse, helped define the sound of postgrunge Seattle. The Can't See are the latest outlet for his singular voice and talented song craft. (Sat 4–4:45 pm)

SERA CAHOONE

The self-titled debut from, and steady ascendancy of, Sera Cahoone has been one of the past year's sweetest local-music surprises. A veteran of Carissa's Wierd and Panda & Angel, Cahoone's dusty originals and throaty singing style suggest Cat Power's Chan Marshall with a major boost of self-confidence—and, on driving cuts like "Last Time," offer a stellar example of how thrilling the intersection of the indie-rock and Americana scenes can be. (Sat 5:15–6 pm)

THE DIVORCE

Judiciously toeing the line between dramatic pop pageantry and edgy rock chaos, the Divorce have much more to offer than a clever band name and a reputation for making the ladies (and gents) swoon. Working as a much-needed tonic for former emo fans who can't stomach the genre's evolution into narcissistic bombast, they imbue their catchy, heartfelt melodies with just enough sharp and scathing tones to keep their radio-friendly flavor from tasting too sweet. (Sat 6:30–7:30 pm)

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE

Northern California guitar shaman Ben Chasny has been a key figure in the freak-folk scene since 2000 (just don't say that to his face). As Six Organs of Admittance, he's become one of the most consistent purveyors of six-string mysticism; mantric, post-Fahey improv; and inner-space drone-tecture. We'll bet you a vegetarian Ethiopian meal that Chasny's will be one of the Block Party's most shiver-inducing performances. (Sat 8–8:45 pm)

MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO.

Country-rock troubadour (emphasis on dour) Jason Molina folded his Songs: Ohia project a few years ago and smoothly segued into Magnolia Electric Co. Under that moniker, Molina has deployed many splendid lineups to forge emotionally stirring music that evokes a Will Oldham/Neil Young jam session under a fading sun—and after the gold rush. MEC's new disc, Fading Trails, was recorded by Steve Albini at Sun Studios. The results are as riveting as such auspicious circumstances indicate. (Sat 9:15–10 pm)

THE LITTLE ONES

It's been a long weekend. You've seen 800 bands (or something like that), spent many hours in the heat, and did you even try to keep track of how many beers you downed? Now the sun has set on Saturday night, the Devils' reunion set totally slayed, but the party is far from over, as the Little Ones have yet to sweep you away to a poppy dreamland with their Beatles-esque melodies infused with the hyperactive tones of the Flaming Lips. The Little Ones are worth staying late for. (Sat 11:10 pm–12:10 am)

VERA STAGE

TALL BIRDS

Remember the Catheters? Three-quarters of that snarling, Stooges-y demolition crew have reformed as Tall Birds. Don't expect the same-old foot-stomping rock bombast—Tall Birds drop some of the Catheters' heat in an attempt to ascend to psyched-out pop plateaus. Where the Catheters hit you straight in the face, Tall Birds' music serpentines and swells around you with notes of the Velvet Underground, Stones, Love, and Can immersed in their harmonies. (Fri 4–4:30 pm)

ABYSSINIAN CREOLE

MCs Gabriel Teodros and Khingz Makoma are the crew known as Abyssinian Creole. Already fixtures in 206 ciphers for years, the duo released the Sexy Beast LP, cementing their rightful place in the much-celebrated class of '05. Striking a deft balance of literate poetry and lyrical pugilism, the two rocked the shit out of a sold-out Showbox at the Mass Line label launch. (Fri 5–5:30 pm)

PANTHER

Portland's Charles Salas-Humara pounds out absurd prog punk in his band, The Planet The, but moonlighting as Panther, he's a one-man, indie-rock answer to Prince's bizarrely altered question mark. Singing, squealing, and squirming to prerecorded beats may sound so 2002, but rest assured that Panther parties like it's 1999. His captivating stage presence and innate ability to turn out even the stiffest of crowds makes him much more than an electro novelty act. (Fri 5:45–6:15 pm)

BOAT

I love Boat! Their songs are sorta wacky (thanks to an array of sounds from whistles, cowbells, melodicas, etc.), but they're still completely romantic (though I can't explain why). Think the Appalachian flavor of Neutral Milk Hotel mixed with the more charming aspects of the Shins. They have a new record out called Songs You Might Not Like, but you will like them despite the self-deprecating title. So buy it. And also see their show. Because they're great. (Fri 6:30–7 pm)

THE PHARMACY

The Pharmacy are basically a band of boys who never stopped throwing hissy fits. But their tantrums aren't nearly as annoying as the prepubescent screaming. In fact, they're pretty radical, paired with awesome, punked-up, and heavily synthesized dance beats rounded off with the occasional cowbell and handclap action. But just like the fit pitching of yesteryear, there's still a lot of sloppy hollering (the good kind), arms flailing all around, and even some falling down. Ah, childhood. (Fri 7:15–7:45 pm)

THE SEA NAVY

I can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night's sunset hour than with the Sea Navy. Put together with former pieces of the Ivory Coast, Aqueduct, and Headphones, the Sea Navy's bouncy and soulful pop rock is infused with the familiar sound of Ted Leo, but still has an edge reminiscent of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (or maybe I'm just crazy?). It totally sounds like how summer is supposed to sound like. (Fri 8–8:30 pm)

MACKLEMORE

See preview. (Fri 8:45–9:30 pm)

VISQUEEN

Singer-guitarist Rachel Flotard is threatening to diffuse the vaunted Murder City Devils reunion by dropping an all-MCD covers set, but we hope the trio will debut material from their forthcoming third album instead. Due out in early 2007, Visqueen's latest features some "different tempos," Flotard says, but retains "sing-along style" hooks. If you miss them today, you may have to wait a spell: They'll be spending autumn overseas, promoting a European EP and sampling the new merlots. (Fri 9:45–10:45 pm)

DER TRASCH

With blast beats and noise squalls from a future imagined by disco-punk degenerates with a German fetish, Der Trasch kick off the party Saturday on the Vera stage. Like Brainiac or Numbers getting caught in a mosh pit, DT's spazzy, synth-damaged rock fries your brain, but your zombie body keeps dancing. Keep an eye out for DT's upcoming album on local label I Heart Adventures. (Sat 2–2:30 pm)

LADYHAWK

Ladyhawk's self-titled debut on Jagjaguwar contains 10 songs that feel as familiar and comforting as your favorite pair of jeans—you know, the ones that fit you perfectly and have helped you to get laid countless times over the many years you've been sportin' 'em. The western Canadian quartet play alternately churning and surging, woodsy rock that will pleasantly ruffle the flannel shirts of anyone into Neil Young's '70s output, My Morning Jacket, and Dinosaur Jr.'s '90s catalog. (Sat 3–3:30 pm)

WALLPAPER

This Auburn trio of twee indie-popsters busts out handclaps and harmonies like they're going out of style. Cutesy and awkward in that all-too-pervasive indie-rock way, Wallpaper bear a charming façade that belies the black heart of computer trolls. Yes, this band made fun of me on the internet and my feelings have been irreparably soiled by our feud. Go, but only to stare into the abyss and see MySpace reflected back! (Sat 4–4:45 pm)

SPEAKER SPEAKER

See preview. (Sat 5:15–6 pm)

THE SATURDAY KNIGHTS

How many supergroups can Seattle say it has in its midst? Fuck the Damn Yankees, this crew—Barfly (Oldominion), Tilson (formerly of K Records), B-Web (ex-Dub Narcotic Sound System), and DJ Suspence (one of the Northwest's finest turntablists and smarty-pants Vice contributor)—make some of the most fun hiphop music in town, regularly beating the living shit outta mics, decks, keyboards, guitar, and an especially hard-living cowbell. Chuuch! (Sat 6:30–7:15 pm)

GRAYSKUL

Recognized locally for their trademark brooding rhymes and menacing beats, Seattle's Grayskul burst onto the national scene with their Rhymesayers debut, Deadlivers. A little over a year later and the trio of bassist Rob Castro, MC JFK, and MC/Oldominion progenitor Onry Ozzborn stand poised to repeat their successes with the forthcoming Bloody Radio, again with the legendary Minneapolis label. Catch them as they continue on their quest to protect the secret powers of Seattle's hiphop underground. (Sat 7:45–8:30 pm)

THE LONELY H

Some of the members may still be in high school, but the Lonely H's power pop reeks of your father's favorite records (or, depending on age, maybe they were your favorite records, too). The catchy, sunshine sounds of the Beach Boys combine with the confidence of classic-rock heroes like Led Zeppelin while still boasting a thick candy shell that will fool your mother into thinking these young romantics are innocent despite their long hair and verge-of-rock-stardom status. (Sat 9–9:45 pm)

THE PALE PACIFIC

So when you cover Billy Joel's "Movin' Out" without a hint of irony, you immediately become one of my favorite bands. Bellingham's the Pale Pacific have done just that, recuperating this beautiful ode to shattered dreams and the Hackensack hopeless. When not covering the Piano Man, Gabe Archer and band sound a bit like Death Cab and produce pretty, straightforward pop about love lost and found. One request: Please include "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" on the next album. (Sat 10:15–11 pm)